Vol. 2, No. 3
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
Factory closing to idle 170 workers By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor Changing technology preferences, declining demand and cut-rate competition are forcing Danfoss Scroll Technologies to close its local plant and lay off 170 workers by the end of the year, a spokeswoman said Tuesday. “It’s really a footprint consolidation,” said Lisa Tryson, director of corporate communications. In other words, the three types of compressors and compressor components that Danfoss manufactures, mostly for
use in HVAC systems, will be absorbed by other plants operated by the 87-year-old Norway-based company. One of the plants is in Monterey, Mexico. When Danfoss bought out Scroll Technologies, the previous owner of the 343,000 square-foot plant in the Clark County Industrial Park in Gum Springs, in 2006, the company employed 800 people and manufactured 600,000 units. Last year, the local Danfoss plant only produced 126,000 scroll compressors, Tryson said. In comparison, one competitor is producing a lower-cost product, using
alternate technology, and produced more than 50 million units last year. Those economies-of-scale tactics have also hurt Danfoss, Tryson said. “Globally, we have seen declining
demand for small-capacity scroll compressors,” said Noel Ryan, president of Danfoss Commercial Compressors. See Danfoss • Page 4
Child porn, endangering charges filed
Sherece West-Scantlebury, CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, pauses as she finishes speaking during the Henderson State-hosted Martin Luther King Jr. Community Banquet Monday night.
MLK speaker’s come a long way ... By Bill Sutley
Dispatch Editor Sherece West-Scantlebury, CEO of the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, has come a long way since she lived in Murphy Homes, a Baltimore public housing jungle that inspired HBO’s The Wire. But she can transport herself back there easily — along with a packed-room audience at Henderson State’s annual Martin Luther King Community Banquet — as she did Monday night. All in the service of teaching that King was just as interested in equity as he was in equality. As some experts put it, equality is about treating everyone the same — promoting fairness. But equity goes deeper — giving everyone what they need to succeed. As a 13-year-old, her mother worried about the education her bright girl would encounter at Carver High School, the neighborhood school she would normally attend. So, when an opportunity came for Sherece to test
for entrance into a more competitive academic school across town, her mother encouraged her. And she did well — good enough to get a scholarship. But her mom had miscalculated the problem of transportation to and from school. “She didn’t have a way to get me there,” she recalled Monday night. So her mother figured she needed to simply move closer to the school to make it happen for Sherece, and they moved from the projects to the more upscale Owings-Mills, Md., a Baltimore suburb. “And suddenly it was very quiet, very safe and very white,” she said. “And I didn’t have a lot of experience with white people.” Upon entering her new school, she heard teachers questioning whether she had really performed as well as her grades indicated. “A kid from Murphy Homes
From Dispatch Reports Two people in Clark County were arrested Wednesday, Jan. 15 on rape, child pornography and endangering the welfare of a minor charges. Clark County deputies arrested Jeremy M. Lewis, 41, and Marla Louise Calhoun-Farris at a home in Amity, according to a sheriff’s office news release. Lewis and Farris appeared in court on Friday. Lewis’ Lewis bond was set at $500,000, and Farris’ was set at $150,000. They will both be electronically monitored if they post bond. Lewis faces charges of rape and possession of child pornography, while Farris faces charges of firstdegree endangering the
welfare of a minor. Arraignments will be scheduled pendCalhoun-Farris ing the filing of formal charges by the Clark County prosecuting attorney, Dan Turner. Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson said the investigation is ongoing. Rape is the most serious charge Lewis faces. It’s a Class Y felony in Arkansas, punishable by 10-40 years, or life, in prison. A person convicted of child pornography for the first time is guilty of a Class B felony, which carries a sentence of 5-20 years and a fine of up to $15,000, or both. The endangering charge faced by Farris is a Class D felony, the least serious in Arkansas, punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
City approves budget, accepts bluff pavilion
By Cassidy Witherspoon Special to the Dispatch Arkadelphia’s Board of Directors Tuesday approved a $15 million budget for the coming year that allows for increases in several areas, thanks to the five-year 1-cent sales tax approved by voters in September. See MLK • Page 4 Revenues are expected to cover all expenditures, with sales tax proceeds targeted to cover mostly one-time, infrastructure needs outlined in a series of community forums before the 2-to-1 approval of the tax in a September election. “If all goes well, we’ll have a small surplus at the end of to update its agreement with the But Adkins said the PPCs also the year,” City Manager Gary Brinkley said. recommendations of the Arkansas realized that the school district was Brinkley credited the possible surplus of income to School Boards Association. But they undergoing extreme belt-tightening the increase in sales tax and to the kickstarter loan that decided to wait on the sick leave pro- to right its finances and avoid the board received last year to begin taking care of some posal, leaving it for further discusdeficits. She said there had been one immediate infrastructure needs, with sales tax coming in sion. option discussed — the possibility later used to repay the kickstarter program money spent. Donna Adkins, speaking on behalf that teachers, instead of receiving full He later said that if a surplus did occur, the funds would of all the Personnel Policy Compay for unused sick leave, get instead roll over to the next year so that the city could develop a mittees at each of the district’s five $37.50 for each day of unused sick backup fund. schools, told the school board that leave they’re owed. That’s based on The council also officially took possession, by unanishe had polled eight nearby school the fact that $37.50 is half of $75 — mous vote, of the pavilion built by the Ross Foundation districts and that all allow for payment of unused sick leave. See Unpaid • Page 4 See City • Page 4
Teachers ask to keep unpaid sick leave By Bill Sutley
Dispatch Editor The Arkadelphia Public Schools has, for years, paid teachers for their unused sick leave when they retired or, for some other reason, left the system. But a new proposal by Superintendent Karla Neathery would have that money remain with the district. On Tuesday night, the city Board of Education approved 14 changes in its personnel policy manual, mainly
DeGray festival focuses on eagles, much more
Bald eagles often winter on Lake DeGray.
By Cassidy Witherspoon Special to the Dispatch DeGray Lake Resort State Park will be holding its 41st annual Eagles Et Cetera Festival Friday through Sunday, Jan. 24-Jan. 26. The festival began in 1979 with a focus on bald eagles. At the time, bald eagles were on the endangered species list, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed them from the list in 2007. Since then, the festival has morphed to include many other bird species. Friday festivities include: • A live falconry hunt from 2-4 p.m., which costs $20 per person. • A showcase of Little Rock Zoo’s collec-
tion of owls from 6-7 p.m., which is free An owl prowl hike from 7:30-8:30 p.m. which is free. • An owl prowl adventure cruise from 7:30-8:30 p.m., which costs $10 per adult, $5 for ages 6-12 and is free for younger children. • And a golf course safari from 7:30-8:30 p.m., which costs $12 per adult, $6 for ages 6-12 and is free for younger children. Saturday boasts: • An activity room for kids from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., which is free. • Eagle watch tours every hour from 8 •
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a.m.-3 p.m., which costs $12 per adult, $6 for ages 6-12 and is free for younger children. A live falconry hunt from 10 a.m.-noon, which costs $20. Two informationals from 1-2 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m., which are free to attend. A bird show from 4-5 p.m., which is free. A meet and greet from 5-5:45 p.m. A golf course safari from 7-8 p.m., which costs $12 per adult, $6 for ages 6-12 and free for younger children. See Eagles • Page 4
2 News
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
Soloists at the upcoming President’s Concert are rom left: Wesley Gangluff, Luke Fields, Riley Brule, Morgan Lee, Adrian Hernandez and Zaquary Hale.
HSU students chosen for President’s Concert Henderson State University’s Department of Music will present its annual President’s Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Russell Fine Arts Harwood Recital Hall. The program -- free and open to the public -- features student soloists selected as winners of a competition in November. “The opportunity for some of our best students to perform solo works accompanied by an orchestra, including members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, is one of the highlights of our year,” said Steve Becraft, competition coordinator. The concert will also honor Charles and Ann Rye, retired professors of music at Henderson. Soloists include: • Morgan Lee, a soprano from Malvern, , a soprano from Malvern, who will perform a selection from Verdi’s Falstaff. • Luke Fields, a saxophone player from New Boston, Texas, who will perform Glazunov’s Saxophone Concerto. • Wesley Gangluff, a euphonium player
from Bryant, who will perform the first movement of Joseph Horovitz’s Concerto for Euphonium. • Zaquary Hale, a flautist from Bryant, who will perform Doppler’s Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise. • Riley Brule, a pianist from De Kalb, Texas, who will perform the first movement of Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major. Competition judges also awarded honorable mention to Adrian Hernandez, a saxophone player from DeQueen. Charles and Ann Rye have both been honored by Henderson as Distinguished Alumni. They became Golden Reddies in 2019 as graduates of the Class of 1969. The Ryes met at Henderson as freshmen music instrumental majors in 1965, and were hired to teach at Henderson in 1972 after completing graduate school. They served their entire careers as music professors at Henderson. For more information, contact Becraft at 230-5412 or becrafs@hsu.edu.
Artwork created by electrolysis etching will be among OBU’s new printmaking exhibit.
OBU hosts printmaking exhibit By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist University’s Rosemary Adams Department of Visual Arts will host a group exhibition titled “Pigments and Process” from Jan. 14-March 6, featuring the work of Arkansas printmakers. The exhibit will be displayed in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery on the second floor of Moses-Provine Hall and is free and open to the public. A reception for the featured artists will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, from 1-2 p.m. The “Pigments and Process” exhibit displays a variety of both old and new printmaking processes, techniques and concepts, as well as the state of contemporary printmaking in Arkansas. “With this exhibition, we wanted to showcase how varied the medium can be and give some new perspectives on
the possibilities of this art form that is in somewhat of a resurgence,” said Carey Roberson, associate professor of visual arts. “The works range from wood cuts, screen printing, etching, even letterpress and some hand-applied photographic processes such as gum bichromate and photogravure. “What is all interesting is how varied the subject matter is and how each artist uses process to really convey their ideas,” Roberson added. “It's not just about utilizing a specific printmaking process, but which process will allow the idea to develop and become finalized.” Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, and admission to both the exhibit and the reception on Thursday, Jan. 30, is free. For more information, contact Carey Roberson at robersoncw@obu.edu or (501) 245-4655.
Planetarium plans 8 spring shows From Special Reports Eight unique planetarium shows will be offered this spring at Henderson State University. From stargazing and black holes, to the great space race and Hubble Vision, guests will learn about the solar system on the planetarium’s 360-degree panoramic screen. Numerous projectors are used to display video and slides, which are combined with a modern sound system. Each planetarium show provides a tour of the night’s sky, visiting beautiful planets, nebulae, and galaxies. Before the shows begin, a guide will point out the fascinating objects that can be seen that night with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. The schedule includes: • The Great Space Race (40 minutes),
Jan. 23, 7 p.m. • Supervolcanoes (24 minutes), Feb. 13, 7 p.m. • Black Holes (24 minutes), Feb. 16, 2:30 p.m. • Firefall (27 minutes), Feb. 27, 7 p.m. • 3000 Years of Stargazing (34 minutes), March 12, 7 p.m. • Universe (22 minutes), March 15, 2:30 p.m. • Hubble Vision 2 (30 minutes) April 9, 2:30 p.m. • Exoplanets (30 minutes), April 24, 7 p.m. The shows are open to the public. Admission is $3 per person, or $1 with a student ID. Extreme darkness is important to the effects of the shows, so late arrivals will not be admitted. For more information, call 870-230-5162.
About 25 well-wishers came out on a cold, rainy night for a Founders Day Celebration on Jan. 9 at Town Hall. The event marked the 163rd anniversary of Arkadelphia’s incorporation as a city.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
A Small and Minority Business Forum will be available through the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Small and Minority Business Division from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23. Other resource partners will be available to answer questions. The event, co-sponsored by the Economic Development Committee of Clark County, is offered at no cost, but pre-registration is required. Register at http://asbtdc.org/arkadelphia-events/ or call 870-230-5184. >>> <<< A Resolve to be Healthy Health Fair will be held from 7 a.m.-noon Friday, Jan. 24 at the Arkadelphia Recreation Center, 2555 Twin Rivers Drive. Sponsored by the Becoming a Healthy Clark County Coalition and Baptist Health Medical Center-Arkadelphia, the fair will feature over 40 vendors, door prizes, dental hygiene, mouth cancer screenings (limited free, same-day extractions), heart risk assessment, mental health-substance abuse screenings, information on health and wellness and flu shots courtesy of the state Department of Health, which will charge the insurance companies of those participating. For those without insurance, the charge is $30, but no one will be turned away due to an inability to pay. For more information, contact bahccinfo@ gmail.com. >>> <<< Perritt Primary School, 1900 Walnut St., will host its 36th annual Perritt Primary Chili Supper from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27. A $5 ticket ticket gets you chili, cinnamon rolls, cheese, crackers and a drink. The night includes an Art Show and Sale, plus silent and live auction. Purchase tickets in the Perritt Primary School Office or from a student. All proceeds benefit the Perritt Primary Parent-Teacher Council for security, technology and equipment purchases at the school. Recent purchases include the Raptor guest check-in system that runs a background check on school visitors, U-Bolt locks for every classroom and new risers with rails to keep children from falling off the back row. Order T-shirts, sweatshirts or a hoodie at https://store.printmaniatees.com/ perritt_chili_supper/shop/home. >>> <<< First Baptist Church's Young at Heart fellowship luncheon will focus on music at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 at FBC's fellowship hall. Sim Flora, a former music professor at Ouachita Baptist University, will present a light program on “How Music Works” Flora, an accomplished trombonist and flutist, will illustrate his points with his instruments. A prepared meal will be served for $4. Call 246-5587 by noon Friday, Nov. 15 to make your meal reservation. The church is at the corner of 7th and Pine streets in Arkadelphia. >>> <<< The newly formed DeSoto Bluff Chapter of Quail Forever will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at Arkadelphia’s USDA Service Center, 640 S. 6th St. The meeting is open to the public, especially those interested in preserving quail and their habitat. For more information, call Adam Cooper, 870-6134719, or Kelly Bufkin, 601-218-8940. >>> <<< Renowned international trumpeter Rex Richardson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 in Henderson State’s Arkansas Hall. Richardson will be backed by an all-star big band comprised of Arkansas musicians. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered online at https://rexrichardson-hsu.eventbrite.com. Richardson will also present a free trumpet clinic at 3 p.m. in Arkansas Hall. Richardson is a veteran of the renowned Rhythm & Brass chamber ensemble, jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Brass Band of Battle Creek. He has also appeared with numerous celebrity artists. Richardson stays busy as a headline artist at international festivals and as a soloist with orchestras, jazz ensembles, brass bands and concert bands across the world. He is a professor of trumpet and jazz trumpet at Virginia Commonwealth University, and served as an international tutor in trumpet at England’s Royal Northern College of Music and at Austria’s JAM Music Lab University. >>> <<< Henderson State’s Department of Social Sciences will present the Sidney S. McMath Pre-Law Conference at noon Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Garrison Center’s Grand Ballroom. Brian Rosenthal, president of the Arkansas Bar Association, will be the keynote speaker. A native of Carthage, Mo., Rosenthal earned his law degree from the University of Missouri and is a member of Little Rock-based Rose Law Firm. The conference will feature a buffet luncheon. Tickets are $1 and may be purchased by calling 870-230-5230. A “mock law class” will follow in the Garrison Center Ross Room. The event is funded by the Sidney McMath Endowment for Pre-Law and Government. >>> <<< Third Street Baptist Church will host its annual women's conference from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Event speakers include Jennifer Watson, Christy Rodriguez and Jennifer Francis. Worship will be led by Robert and Brooke Ramsey. The conference is open to girls as young as sixth-graders. Registration costs $30 ($25 for college students) and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information and to register by the Feb. 1 payment deadline, visit the link at thirdstreetbaptist.org. >>> <<< The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5 in Henderson State’s Garrison Center. Lee and Alicia DuCote, of Amazon Prime Video’s Adventure and Romance will be guest speakers. Individual tickets are $40, with sponsorships ranging from $350 to $1,000. For more information, contact Ashlee Vaughn at 870-246-1460 or ashlee@arkadelphiaalliance.com. >>> <<< A local group, Women of Prayer United will present Simply Sandi: An Intimate Night of Songs and Stories with Sandi Patty, at 7 p.m. Saturday March 7 at Trinity Temple Assembly of God, 3509 Pine St. From 1984-1996, Patty won or shared seven Grammy Awards. Patty was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2004. From 1982-1992, she received the GMA’s Dove Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year for 11 years straight. She also won Dove Awards as Artist of the Year in five other years from 19821988. She’s released more than 30 albums from 1978-2017. Tickets are $25 and on sale now through Eventbrite. >>> <<< Grammy Award-winner and Blues Hall of Fame honoree Bobby Rush will perform in concert on Friday, April 24 as part of the Fordyce on the Cottonbelt festival from April 19-25 in the town about an hour east of Arkadelphia. Festival details and more info on Rush’s concert will be available later at https://fordyceonthecottonbeltfestival.com. >>> Ongoing <<< The Arkadelphia Arts Center, 625 Main St., is hosting an exhibit through January titled Design by Nature, honoring the winter months by featuring creations constructed from natural elements such as grasses, crystals, moss, and much more supplied by Mother Nature. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. The exhibit is sponsored by the nonprofit Caddo River Art Guild, 870-245-7982. >>> <<< Alcoholics Anonymous holds two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the Sturgis Building at North 9th and Caddo streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays weekly on the lower level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road, with parking on the left rear. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870230-2975 or 870-260-9277.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
Among the surprises at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Banquet Monday night at Henderson State’s Garrison Center was a gospel choir, above, that combined the voices of both HSU and Ouachita Baptist students. Elaine Kneebone, right, acting president of HSU, presented new awards to both former state Rep. Percy Malone, far right, and county NAACP president Henry Wilson. Story, Page 1. Dispatch photos/Bill Sutley
Roadwork to begin in rural Clark County From Special Reports The Arkansas State Highway Commission has approved a bid for improvements to a roadway in Clark County, according to Arkansas Department of Transportation officials. The purpose of this project is to resurface 9.8 miles of State Highway 53 between State Highway 8 and State Highway 51, west of Arkadelphia. Cranford Construction Company of North Little Rock was awarded the contract at $1,266,893.02. Construction is scheduled to begin in two to four weeks, weather permitting. Completion is expected in mid-2020. Travel information can be found at IDriveArkansas.com or ArDoT.gov.
China trade may boost Arkansas’ economy By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman As the country with the secondlargest GDP in the world, China continues its rise as a significant player on the global stage. Previous administrations have attempted to get China to come to the negotiating table and sign a deal, but only came to verbal agreements, which were quickly broken. Now, President Trump has put Phase 1 of a trade deal with China into place. Phase 1 of this new trade deal between the United States and China will lift trade barriers and boost Ar-
kansas’ economy, specifically Arkansas’ agriculture and manufacturing industries. This deal is also reforming the way China will do business with the United States by addressing longstanding intellectual property concerns and ending forced technology transfers. These lifted barriers will make it easier for American industries to enter into Chinese markets without fear of theft or counterfeited goods. In addition to these structural changes, China has agreed to pur-
chase $40-50 billion of American agricultural goods, including beef, poultry, soybeans, rice and wood products. Arkansas is a top producer in these agriculture industries, and I’m pleased to see that local farmers, ranchers and lumber manufacturers will directly benefit from this deal. We have seen a booming economy under this administration, and Phase 1 of a deal with China will continue this growth nationwide. This is an important first step, but we still have a lot of work to do. I look forward to seeing the American economy grow
The Ritz Theatre, which opened in 1938, showed movies until about a year ago.
We want to thank those who contributed financially. We also want to thank the Clark County Humane Society folks for helping us with place puppies. Janie, Amanda and all are very good partners, indeed. We even had a local volunteer who did a great job cleaning our storage area. Thank you, also, to those who adopted and are enjoying their puppies. I am writing grants. You've got to have a dream to make a dream come true. We will see where this does or doesn't go. All the grants that I am working on are 100% funded. One is
Special to the Dispatch U.S. News and World Reports reported last week on colleges and universities with the lowest costs for international students, placing Henderson State University sixth among the 15 schools cited. Between travel, visas and universities charging higher tuition for nonresidents, the cost to study in the U.S. can be steep. While heavily populated states such as California and New York dominate when it comes to the number of international students, budget-minded learners can often find good deals in less traditional destinations. Of the 823 ranked schools that had at least 10 international students and reported international student tuition, fees and room and board to U.S. News in an annual survey, the 15 most affordable are largely regional colleges or universities located in the South, the Midwest or the West. Annual costs for international students at these schools come in at a high of $10,296 and go as low as $5,790. Here are the 15 U.S. colleges and universities with the lowest reported total cost for international students in 2019-2020. Schools ranked ahead of Henderson were: • Valley City State University, Valley City, N.D., with 23 international students among 1,404 undergraduates and current tuition $10,296. • Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology-Okmulgee, Okmulgee, Okla., with 18 internationals among 2,403 undergraduates and current tuition at $9,960. • Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss., with 19 internationals among 846 undergraduates and current tuition at $9,900. • Dickinson State University, Dickinson, N.D., with 51 internationals among 1,375 undergraduates and current tuition at $9,784. • Broward College, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with 1,644 internationals among 40,784 undergraduates and current tuition at
MALVERN — Arkansas State University Three Rivers was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to produce a plan for the restoration and renovation of the Historic Ritz Theatre in downtown Malvern. ASU Three Rivers plans to renovate the theatre as a community performing arts facility. The college will be able to hold campus eventsthere, as well as make it available for community use. "Organizations like Arkansas State University Three Rivers help to ensure that communities all across America retain their unique sense of place," said Paul Edmondson, president of the National
Gurdon prepared for cold, icy weather By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor The recent cold weather is something that we have to deal with during the winter. Our shelter dogs stayed warm inside, and they had the option to go outdoors, too. This past week and weekend, Brandi and I worked with others to add two more new indooroutdoor runs at the Gurdon facility. Using doggy doors, the canines have the best of both worlds, warm inside (via the heat pump system) and fresh air outside in their own enclosure.
HSU among most affordable for internationals
$9,702. Henderson State’s entry states that it had 40 internationals enrolled in fall 2018, among about 3,000 undergraduates with current tuition at $8,640. Schools were asked to state their six-year international student graduation rate, which Henderson put at 29%. Many other schools didn’t list their rate. Henderson’s was the lowest among schools that offered a number. Other schools in the top 15 were: • Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minn., with 103 internationals in fall 2018 among 4,727 undergraduates and current tuition at $7,630. • Delta State University, Cleveland, Miss., with 126 internationals among 3,075 undergraduates and current tuition at $7,501. • Southwest Minnesota State University, Marshall, Minn,, with 120 internationals among 6,444 undergraduates in 2018 and current tuition at $7,496. • Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, Miss., with 53 internationals among 2,505 undergraduates and current tuition at: $7,425. • Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Moorhead, Minn., with 268 internationals among 4,828 undergraduates in fall 2018 and current tuition at $7,410. • Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Mass., with 45 internationals among 9,504 undergraduates and current tuition at $7,050. • Nicholls State University, Thibodaux, La., with 95 internationals among 5,896 undergraduates and current tuition at $6,015. • Eastern New Mexico University, Portales, N.M., with 76 internationals among 4,706 undergraduates and current tuition at $5,994. • Brigham Young University-Provo, Provo, Utah, with 1,026 internationals among 31,441 students and current tuition at $5,790. Henderson and many of these other schools made a similar list in 2019. For more information, visit usnews.com.
Theatre may get facelift
ArDoT: No signs on highway side LITTLE ROCK — Candidates for political office and their supporters are being reminded by the state Department of Transportation that it’s unlawful to place campaign signs — or any other kind — on highway rights of way in Arkansas. Small “yard” signs that are placed on the right of way will be removed by ArDoT personnel. Owners of large “billboard” type signs will be notified and given an opportunity to remove them before ArDoT does.
News 3
a proposal for Main Street improvements. Another could fund the rehabilitation of a Main Street building. That one is a USDA Grant similar to those that completed The Market On Main and the Gurdon Business Center. Bear in mind, writing grants is a long way from completing projects. We will see. A couple of other grants are also in the works. Have a great weekend. Thank you to all of you who work at the Georgia Pacific Gurdon Wood Products for doing such a fine job everyday. I appreciate you!
Trust for Historic Preservation. "We are honored to provide a grant to ASU Three Rivers, which will use the funds to help preserve an important piece of our shared national heritage." Grants from the National Trust Preservation Fund range from $2,500 to $5,000 and have provided over $15 million since 2003. These matching grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the country to support wide-ranging activities including consultant services for rehabilitating buildings, technical assistance for history-related tourism and the development of materials for education and outreach campaigns.
The Arkadelphia Dispatch 812 Clinton St., Suite B Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Phone: 870-617-7001 Editor: Bill Sutley email: arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.
Banks CPA, PLLC Stephanie M. Banks, CPA 204 North 27th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923-5309 Phone: (870) 245-3975 Fax: (870) 246-7149
4 News
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Southern Tenant Farmers Museum recognized Special to the Dispatch The Southern Tenant Farmers Museum, an Arkansas State University Heritage Site in Tyronza, has been accepted into the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, a global association of museums, historical sites and public memory initiatives where important civil and human rights history occurred. The museum weaves the story of the tenant farming and sharecropping systems with the history of the lives of the people who experienced it. Using photos, artifacts, oral histories and vintage 1930s news reels, visitors to the museum gain a sense of the obstacles tenant farmers overcame in their quest for a better way of life for themselves and their
families. Tenant farming and sharecropping evolved in Arkansas following the Civil War and Reconstruction. With the end of slavery, landowners needed a new form of labor. Turning to former slaves and poor whites, the planters offered the use of their land to the farmer in return for payment from each acre harvested. Many of the tenant farmers had no capital and were forced to agree to the demands of the owners to ensure the survival of their families. The poorest of the farmers, who had no capital or equipment, turned to sharecropping. Sharecropping meant that the farmer received a smaller portion of the crops they grew and harvested. In some instances,
Unpaid
But a new formula takes into consideration the age of a district’s schools, and Continued Arkadelphia has two of the from page 1 oldest schools in the state in Central Primary School, built in 1930, and Peake — the amount the school Elementary School, built in district would have to pay the 1940s. Immediate plans a substitute when they did are to pursue funding first happen to miss school — in for a new Peake Elementary other words, reward the School, but those plans teacher for saving the diswill probably remain on trict money by not calling hold for at least a couple in sick. of years — first, because The board was expected Arkadelphia won’t know to discuss the proposal and if it qualifies for up to 55% make a decision soon. state coverage of construcA new six-year Master tion costs until this time Plan for the district to next year, and also because guide its plans for building school officials want the schools was also discussed state Department of TransTuesday night after a preportation to finish widening sentation by Charles Stein, Pine Street before beginone of the state’s leading ning serious construction. consultants on school conIn other action, school struction and financing. board member Paulette Stein’s presentation Blacknall was honored by represented a public hearher colleagues with the aning that would allow the nual ASBA Boardsmanship school district to finalize its Award for her dedication in plan by Feb. 1, which Stein attending training sessions described as a hard deadduring the past year. Blackline for submitting plans nall said she was involved calling for state funds to in such training for 27.5 help fund new schools. The hours in 2019, bringing her problem with Arkadelphia total to 75 hours since she qualifying for state money joined the school board in to pay about half the cost 2007. of a school has traditionKenneth Harris, who’s ally the fact that the city been on the unpaid school schools’ enrollment has board since 1983, has plummeted over the last amassed more than 565 two decades — from 2,319 hours of such training students in 2001 to 1,761 since then. That includes 11 students today. hours in 2019.
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And an owl prowl adventure cruise from 7-8 p.m., which costs $10 per adult, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for younger children. Sunday wraps up the festival with eagle watch tours every two hours from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., which costs $12 per adult, $6 for ages 6-12 and is free for younger children. More information about each event can be found on the Arkansas State Parks website under the “Events” tab at https://www.arkansasstateparks.com/events. The best way to reserve
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Continued from page 1 the DeSoto Bluff Trail head, overlooking the Ouachita River. The foundation’s gift, celebrating its 50th anniversary, was valued at more than $134,000. The bluff vantage point is considered a city park, so the Parks and Recreation Department
spots for an activity is to call DeGray Lodge’s front desk at 501-865-5851 David Armstrong, park interpreter, advises guests to wear multiple layers — especially people who sign up for the cruises. “The weather often deceives people,” he said. “They think the weather is fine until they get out on the lake, where it’s a lot colder” This year, DeGray Lodge is undergoing renovation, and the lodge’s restaurant is currently closed, so be sure to make other plans for food. For anyone who is unable to attend, Eagle Watch Cruises are scheduled with Armstrong and other interpreters every weekend through the first of March. will be the entity to call to reserve the pavilion for private gatherings such as a reunion or a wedding. The board also unanimously approved a resolution backing up the county’s action last week in asking the Corps of Engineers to forego building an office, as planned, at the Lakeview area overlooking Lake DeGray and lease the area to the county for tourism purposes.
the landowner would sell the entire crop without the knowledge or consent of the farmer. Such practices meant that many farmers never resolved their debt to the landowner. The number of farmers involved in the tenant system was staggering — in the late 1800s, 25 percent of all farmers operated under the system; by the end of the 1930s, the ratio had grown to 40 percent. During the Great Depression, the Roosevelt administration created the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which restricted production by paying farmers to leave some of their land idle, raising cotton prices as a result. The law stated that Conscience-raising Tyronza museum. landowners would share the payment with tenant farmers and sharecroppers. practices of landowners Thus began a movement to Instead, many landowners were the catalyst for the take control for those who kept the entire payment formation of the Southern could not take control for and evicted the tenant Tenant Farmers Union. themselves. farmers and sharecroppers The goal of the original The members of the because they were now meeting was to discuss union — black and white, viewed as unnecessary. options for revising the male and female — were The continued unethical tenant farming system. committed to making life
better for tenant farmers, who had been exploited for over half a century. The Southern Tenant Farmers Museum is located on Main Street at Chicago and Frisco Streets in downtown Tyronza.
Alcoa stock tumbles after report From Special Reports Alcoa Corp. stock fell over 10.3% on the New York Stock Exchange in the week ending Friday, Jan. 17 after the company posted lower than expected results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019. NYSE records show the stock at $20.18 on Jan. 15, just before the earnings report, falling to $17.12 by Tuesday. Alcoa, known as AA in the NYSE world, reported a net loss of $303 million compared to a $221 million net loss in the third quarter of 2019, according to FXDailyReport. This included charges related to the closure of the Point Comfort refinery in Texas, which ceased operation in 2016.
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During recent years, Tryson said, Danfoss has experimented with bringing new product lines to the Gum Springs plant in hopes of keeping it open. But, eventually, Danfoss executives realized the plant had to be closed. “It wasn’t a decision taken lightly or made easily,” she said. Company officials have been meeting with Stephen Bell, CEO and president of the Arkadelphia Alliance for Regional Economic Development and area Chamber of Commerce, to develop strategies for helping employees with the year-long transition. Although the plant won’t close until year’s end, Tryson said, “some lines could be moving as early as June.” She didn’t say whether that would mean workers would be laid off earlier than year’s end.
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couldn’t possibly make these grades,” she said with exaggeration, impersonating her new teachers. So, as a result, she was put in the lowest-ranking class, 7F — something she had to remind herself of by putting that on every paper she turned in. “It should not be a surprise that kids in poverty don’t do well in school,” she said. “But it wasn’t long before my teachers saw my ability and moved me to 7A.” She recounts the tale as an example of exceptionalism — the condition of being different from the
During the fourth quarter, lower raw materials costs partially offset the impact of lower alumina and aluminum prices. On the back of lower market prices for alumina and aluminum, the adjusted EBITDA — earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization — fell $77 million and $23 million, respectively. With the divestiture of the Afobaka hydroelectric dam in Suriname and the Gum Springs, Ark., facility and the closure of the Point Comfort refinery in fiscal 2020, the company expects transformation EBITDA to be negative by about $85 million, compared to negative $7 million in 2019. Most of that impact is from the the Suriname dam closing.
Danfoss employees have weathered earlier layoffs, including one that displaced 45 workers in 2012 and another that 100 workers in 2011. But it added around 70 workers 2014 and 2015, thanks to incentives provided by the Economic Development Corporation of Clark County, which Bell oversees. Danfoss employs about 28,000 employees to serve customers in more than 100 countries, mostly via its 50 plants. Bell told Arkansas Business that the alliance would be working said his organization and the company will be working with the Governor's Dislocated Worker Task Force to retrain and find jobs for employees. Tryson said employees would be offered severance packages, help finding work and the option of continuing insurance, as mandated by federal law. Employees were in meetings at the plant most of the day Tuesday so executives could outline what was ahead for them. “We are working with our employees to provide the best possible outplacement support,” Ryan said. “The
norm. “In other words, it’s OK for some to escape, but not all of them,” she said. One of the most sad things about that condition, she said, is that “when children fail, there’s a tendency to blame the parents,” West-Scantlebury said. “There are systems and structures set up to produce the outcomes they’ve produced.” One of the main problems her Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation is addressing is that seven out of 10 children can read on grade level in Arkansas. “And education is not the only problem,” she said. “Pre-existing societal norms dictate norms. The question is what are we prepared to do today. The Winthrop Rockefeller
decision is in no way a reflection of the efforts and commitment of our valued Arkadelphia workforce. Quite the contrary. Our employees have demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and high performance. Instead, the decision is based on the need to optimize the business to meet current market conditions.” Bell and the Alliance will no doubt be trying to help Danfoss find a buyer for its massive facility by the end of the year. Its earlier distinctions include a 1999 “Top 10 Best Plants” award from IndustryWeek magazine and a 2001 “Arkansas Quality Award” based on the stringent Malcolm Baldridge National Quality award criteria. A Norwegian entrepreneur, Mads Clausen, founded Danfoss on Sept. 1, 1933 in his parents’ farmhouse in Nordborg, Denmark, which is still the global company’s home base. Most North American operations are overseen from Baltimore. Today, Danfoss is almost entirely owned by the Bitten and Mads Clausen Foundation.
Foundation believes equity is they key to change in Arkansas.” And then she lapses back into her memories as a young teen. “If my 13-year-old self had equity, I would not be placed in 7-F because of my Zip code. Join us at the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation in building an equitable Arkansas.” After West-Scantlebury spoke, Henderson’s acting president, Elaine Kneebone, presented two
new awards. The first, Henderson State’s Martin Luther King Community Service Award went to Henry Wilson, the longtime president of the Clark County NAACP. The Martin Luther King Recognition Award went to former state Rep. Percy Malone, whose devoted his recent years to building his AllCare Pharmacy network of stores and drug-delivery systems to nursing homes and corrections facilities.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
News 5
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
Hot-shooting HSU overwhelms OBU
Special to the Dispatch Henderson State's scorching hot shooting proved to be too much for rival Ouachita Baptist as the Reddies raced past the Tigers, 88-66, to notch their sixth-straight win. The victory is the fifth-consecutive GAC win for HSU, which is the program's longest conference winning streak since the 2006-2007 season. Both teams got off to strong starts in front of Henderson's biggest home crowd of the season Thursday evening. The Reddies (12-3, 7-2) hit seven of the their first 13 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 shooting from three, while Ouachita hit on eight of its first 11 to knot things up 18-18 through the game's first eight minutes. With the game tied, Henderson put together its first run and used a threepoint play from Quawn Marshall, along with back-to-back three-pointers from Rel Johnson and Chris Owens, to power a 12-5 spurt and push HSU in front 30-23. OBU trimmed the deficit to 30-27, but the Reddies had an even bigger spurt up their sleeves and closed the last six minutes with a 14-2 run to seize their largest advantage, 44-29, at halftime. Henderson shot 57.1% in the period and was a sizzling
8-for-14 from three-point range. The Reddies increased their advantage at the start of the second half when they stretched the lead out to 52-34 at the 16:04 mark. Facing its largest deficit of the night, Ouachita put together a big 17-5 run over the next six minutes and trimmed the score to 57-51 with 10 minutes remaining. Suddenly in a tight contest for the first time since the opening half, Henderson responded with a knock-out blow and strung together a momentum-stealing 23-6 stretch of play which was highlighted by three crowd-energizing alley-oops in quick succession from Mike Fofana, Raekwon Rogers and Johnson. The huge run slammed the door on any comeback attempt for the Tigers as the Reddies cruised to the final horn. Five players finished in double figures once again for HSU. Chris Parker led the way with 17 points and reached the 1,000-point milestone for his career with 15 in the first half. Anthony Lupardus had an efficient 12, Johnson chipped in 11, and both Rogers and Marshall added 10. The Reddies shot a blistering 58.9% from the floor for the night and were 15-for-18 (83.3%) from inside the three-point line in the second half.
HSU women trounce OBU
Henderson State sophomore Maci Mains came off the bench Thursday to lead the Reddies in scoring for the fourth straight game, and Blu Jones scored eight points in less than two minutes to help put the game away as HSU defeated Ouachita Baptist for the sixth-straight time, 75-46. Henderson got right back into the win column after having a four-game winning streak snapped last Saturday by Southwestern Oklahoma State. Mains picked up right where she left off in the Sooner State, scoring 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting. The Springdale native has now scored 17 or more in four-consecutive games. Lani Snowden turned in another efficient performance for the Reddies, scoring 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting while playing
a team-high 36 minutes. Maija Gertstone led the Lady Tigers with 22 points. OBU’s Madison Rainey contributed 10 points and 8 boards. The Reddies were energized by Mains midway through the first quarter when the sophomore came off the bench to score five points in less than 30 seconds to give HSU a 7-4 lead with 5:54 to play in the first quarter. A key OBU playmaker, Madison Brittain, had to leave the game late in the second quarter with an apparent knee injury. By the final frame, the thin Tigers rotation had run out of gas. Ouachita wouldn’t get closer than 21 as Madi Nichols, Gracie Raby, and Ashley Farrar all splashed three-point shots down the stretch.
Ouachita spoils UA-Monticello home win streak MONTICELLO — Ouachita Baptist University got back in the win column Saturday, handing Arkansas-Monticello its first home loss of the season, 75-68. Trey Harris led the Tigers with 21 points. Allie Freeman added 17 on 80% three-point shooting. For Monticello, Marcus Gilbert led all scorers with 22, while four other Weevils tallied double digit points. The game was back and forth until the Tigers took off in the final five minutes. Harris gave the Tigers a 59-58 lead with 4:47 to play, and the Tigers never looked back. A pair of three pointers by Harris and Freeman with under three minutes to go shifted all the momentum Ouachita's way, letting the Tigers coast to victory.
HSU photo/Steve Fellers
Reddie guard Anthony Lupardus focuses as he begins to loft a shot last Thursday over Ouachita’s Kendarious Smith, also a guard.
Tech rips HSU in triple-overtime win
RUSSELLVILLE — Henderson State came up short in the program's first-ever triple-overtime contest Saturday, as Arkansas Tech out-lasted the Reddies,126-122. inside Tucker Coliseum. Henderson (12-4, 7-3) trailed 43-37 at the half after hitting just one of its first 12 shots to start the game and shooting 36.8% in the first 20 minutes of action. Needing a big run to get back into it, the Reddies found one, as four points from Chris Parker and Jeremiah Toney, and two three-pointers from Mike Fofana, powered a quick 19-4 run that almost entirely erased the deficit and trimmed the lead to 59-58 with 12
Special to the Dispatch/SCassidy Witherspoon
Ouachita forward Eden Crow (22) gets a taste of the defensive pressure applied by the Reddies for the entire game Thursday night. Henderson won, 75-46.
minutes remaining. The momentum was short-lived for Henderson, as the Wonder Boys regrouped following a questionable fourth foul call on Fofana, and responded with an 11-0 run of their own to regain a doubledigit advantage with 9:32 to go, 70-58. The Reddies refused to fold, however, and gradually scrapped their way back into the game once again — eventually cutting the deficit to 84-83 with 14 seconds remaining. Parker was fouled on a jump shot with 3.5 seconds remaining and went 1-for-2 at the line to send the game into overtime. Parker led Henderson with 24 points, eight rebounds and five as-
sists. Owens had a careerhigh 22 points and 14 rebounds off the bench, while Toney had 17 points in 15 minutes of action. Johnson finished with 15 points, and Lupardus and Fofana each had 14 to round out the doublefigure scorers for HSU. The Reddies set new school records for rebounds (66) and shots attempted (101) in defeat. HSU out-rebounded ATU, 66-53.
6 Sports
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
11 Tigers, 5 Reddies on GAC All-Decade Team
From Dispatch Reports RUSSELLVILLE. — The Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State football programs combined for 16 slots on the inaugural Great American Conference All-Decade Team announced for football on Tuesday. OBU was named GAC Program of the Decade, recognizing Ouachita’s five GAC Championships. Eleven Tigers, past and present, were also honored — more than any other GAC school. Five Reddies earned spots. Tuesday’s announcement is part of an effort to reveal, over the next two weeks, All-Decade teams for the 13 sports the GAC oversees. The original list of nominees consisted of players who met at least one of the following three criteria: earned an "of the Year" award, named to at least two AllGAC First Teams or at least three All-GAC teams. Deciding the final rosters are GAC coaches, sports information directors, athletic directors, senior women administrators and media representatives. The All-Decade selections for the Reddies included quarterback Kevin Rodgers, wide receiver Darius Davis, center Cory Stitle, defensive end Glennon Bobo and linebacker Keaton Stigger. Rodgers, who was a three-time AllAmerican and Harlon Hill finalist, remains the most decorated player in the league's history and threw for 13,678 yards and 124 touchdowns in his career — both of which are records for college football in the state of Arkansas at any level. A three-time GAC Player of the Year, Rodgers, from Rockwall, Texas, was inducted into Henderson State's Hall of Honor this past fall. Davis, who was a three-time All-GAC selection and the school's first unanimous NCAA First Team All-American in 2014, is the conference and Arkansas' all-time leader in receiving yards (3,686) and receiving touchdowns (47). The native of Frisco, Texas was one of just three receiv-
ers to make the All-Decade team. Stitle earned one of just two spots reserved for centers on the All-Decade roster. Stitle was a two-time First Team All-GAC selection, played in 42 games with the Reddies from 2014-2017 and started at center in 36 of the final 37 games of his career. The Aledo, Texas native also earned Don Hansen All-Region honors in both 2015 and 2017. Bobo, from Ashdown, was a three-time All-GAC honoree and two-time All-Region. A nightmare on the defensive front, Bobo is second all-time at Henderson with 46.5 tackles for loss in his career. Bobo recorded 13.5 tackles for loss or more in each of his last three season with the Reddies. Stigger, who was a three-time All-GAC selection, was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2013 when he finished with a school-record 136 tackles. An All-American on four different publications in 2013, Stigger, from Collierville, Texas, was one of just two inside linebackers to earn a spot on the All-Decade team. As a program, Henderson State was a force to be reckoned with in the decade. The Reddies finished 82-31 overall from 2010 to 2019 and 68-20 in GAC contests. HSU won four conference titles in that span and saw the program reach the NCAA DII Playoffs in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Ouachita’s honorees were running back Kris Oliver, running back Chris Rycraw, tight end Johnathan Powell, wide receiver Allie Freeman, utility player Drew Harris, offensive lineman Cori Gooseberry, offensive lineman Justin Gooseberry (Cori’s twin), offensive lineman Aaron Sprinkle, cornerback Keandre Evans, kicker Cole Antley and return specialist Etauj Allen. As an OBU senior in 2018, Oliver, from Arkadelphia, became the all-time leading rusher in GAC history. In his four years at Ouachita, he accounted for 3,371 yards and 40 touchdowns. After the 2018 season, he was named to the D2CCA Sec-
D1 foes outswim Red Wave LITTLE ROCK — Henderson State’s Red Wave swam valiantly against two Division I schools Saturday in the state's capital, but came up short against Southern Illinois and UALR in both the men's and women's competitions. HSU's men fell to Southern Illinois 126-79, while the women dropped duals to SIU 190.5-140.5 and to Little Rock 176-150. The Red Wave won four events -- three on the men's side and one on the women's. HSU’s Stephen Jones took first for HSU in the 50-yard freestyle (21.25) and the 100-yard freestyle (46.06), while Henderson's 200-freestyle relay team of Tim Holt, Ryan Brown, Jason Seiner and Jones finished first in the final event of the day (1:24.97). Till Steyer of HSU came in second in the 200-yard backstroke (1:55.53) and the 400-yard IM (4:11.90), and finished third in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.96). Henderson’s Elam Fulton took home the lone win of the day for the women's squad with a time of 24.11 in the 50-yard freestyle and also tied for second place in the 100-yard freestyle (53.59). Henderson returns to the pool at 6 p.m. Friday, Goza Middle School’s Junior Badgers coasted to a win Jan. 24, when both teams Thursday night over the Barton Junior High Wildkittens face off with rival Ouachita from El Dorado. Baptist at OBU.
ond Team All-Region, First Team All-GAC (second time) and GAC Offensive Player of the Year. Rycraw, from Bryant, played for OBU from 2011-2013 and was named twice to the GAC First Team and and All-GAC for three years. In 2012, he rushed for 1,011 yards on 199 carries, averaging 99 rushing yards per game, and scored nine touchdowns. Rycraw recorded 742 rushing yards in 2011, adding 14 touchdowns. Powell, from Searcy, played for OBU from 2012-2015 and was named to the 2015 GAC First Team and was All-GAC for three seasons. During 2013, Powell played in all 10 games and recorded two receptions for 33 yards, but he also blocked for a rushing attack that averaged 194.7 yards per game. Freeman, from Little Rock, has proven to be a versatile asset over his 2016-2019 football career at OBU, racking up, over four years, 2,421 receiving yards, 1,624 yards on kick returns and 483 yards on punt returns, scoring 26 touchdowns along the way. Earlier this month, he was named Ouachita’s Most Valuable Player for 2019. He was named twice to the GAC first team and was All-GAC all four years. (And Freeman has scored 57 points in four games as a basketball guard this season.) Harris, from Benton, made the GAC First Team twice and was All-GAC three times. Playing from 2015-2018, mostly as a wide receiver, he amassed 1,409 receiving yards, 886 rushing yards and 94 passing yards over four years. (He played only one game his freshman year.) On kick return duty, he piled up 392 yards.. Cori Gooseberry, from Little Rock, was named to the GAC First Team three years. Earlier this month, he received the Willie Roaf Award from the Little Rock Touchdown Club for his performance during the 2019 season. Justin Gooseberry, from Little Rock, was named to the GAC First Team two years and was All-GAC for three seasons.
For his final season at OBU, in 2018, he was named First Team D2CCA All American, First Team All- Region and Second Team American Football Coaches AllAmerican honors. Sprinkle, from White Hall, was known for playing every position on the offensive line during his 2011-2014 tenure at Ouachita. He made the GAC First Team two years and was All-GAC three years. In 2013, he blocked for a rushing attack that averaged 194.7 yards per game. Evans, from Junction City, made the GAC First Team two years and was AllGAC three years. After the 2019 season, his last, he was named a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, which goes to the nation’s best small school defensive player. During the 2019 season, he was first in the GAC for passes defended and 16th in Division II. During his 2015-2019 OBU career, sitting out the 2016 season after only playing in five games during 2015, Evans amassed a total of 208 tackles and broke up 39 pass plays. Antley, from Atlanta, was a place kicker for Ouachita from 2015-2019, making virtually every PAT he ever attempted: 190 of 194 kicks. He was also adept at field goals, kicking one 49 yards against Southern Arkansas in 2016. Antley also racked up more than 4,000 yards in kickoffs during each of his four years at Ouachita. He was named to the 2018 GAC First Team and was All-GAC for all four years. He was also named an AFCA All-American after the 2017 season. Allen, from San Antonio, finished his senior 2014 season second in the nation in averaging 18.7 yards per return. He also set the Ouachita single-season record in punt return yardage. He was named twice to the GAC First Team and was All-GAC all three years he played at OBU after transferring from a junior college. In all, he amassed 999 punt return yards on 58 carries. Allen also doubled as a defensive back, racking up 85 tackles during his OBU career.
OBU’s Cliff Harris named to Pro Football Hall of Fame By OBU Sports Information
Ouachita Baptist University alumnus, former Dallas Cowboys safety and Super Bowl champion Cliff Harris has been named as a member of the 2020 Professional Football Hall of Fame Centennial Class. Harris, along with 12 others, was revealed as an inductee on Wednesday, Jan. 15, for the Hall's celebration of the National Football League's 100th season. "We are very excited for Cliff," said David Sharp, Ouachita director of athletics. "There was never any question about his qualifications on the field. What a lot of people do not see or realize about Cliff is how caring and giving he is off the field." Harris was one of 10 senior candidates and three other contributors included in the selection for the Canton, Ohio hall. "I'm so grateful, and I'm without words right now," Harris said when he was notified. "What an elite group for a kid out of Ouachita Baptist to join.” What was he thinking after the announcement? "I'm just thinking about my mom and dad,” he said. “Dad guided me so much through my life through his toughness. He was a diabetic, and he lost his vision. He was a football player, but he taught me how to be tough, and mentally tough, and how to live my life. He's been my example.
Harris waves from OBU pressbox during HSUOBU game in November. "I'm so thankful for my family, for Ouachita Baptist and my coach, and Coach Tom Landry," he continued. "There is also Gene Stallings, and Gil Brandt. Gil Brandt means so much to me — for finding me at Ouachita and helping me play when the odds were against me." Born in Fayetteville, Harris attended both Hot Springs High School and Des Arc High School,
where he played football as the quarterback. He later attended and played for the Ouachita Tigers, first at cornerback before switching to safety his senior year, in 1970. From the time he signed with the Dallas Cowboys and began playing as a rookie in 1970, Harris was consistently in the defensive backfield as a safety until 1979. Nicknamed "Captain Crash" because of his relentless and aggressive tackles, Harris saw nine postseasons in his 10-year career with the Cowboys and appeared in five Super Bowls, two of which were victories, including Super Bowl VI in 1972 — the Cowboys’ first championship win. The Cliff Harris Award, given annually by the Little Rock Touchdown Club, recognizes the best small college defensive player of the year. Ouachita's Cliff Harris Stadium, built and dedicated in September of 2014 as Ouachita football's historic A.U. Williams Field, also is named in his honor.